Headrest



July 27, 1937. KAISER 7 2,088,207

HEADREST Filed July 9, 1935 INVENTOR.

HENRY KAISER ATTORNEYS Patented July 27, 1937 HEADREST Henry Ar nold Kaiser, Ronan, Mont, assignor f one-third to Leo Kaiser, Ronan'," Mont, and

Mont:

one-third to George R. Shepard, Missoula,

Application July 9, 1935, Serial No. 30,510 I 2 Claims. (Cl. 155-175) This invention relates to head rests of the .type intended to promote thercomfort of passengers on trains, buses and other vehicles though I mill is to be understood that the device can be used for. other purposes such as insuring proper breathing during sleep.

l The primary object of the present invention is l to provideadevice of the. foregoing type which is.

. simple in construction, inexpensive to manu- :facture, exceedingly easy to apply and adjust. to

itheindividual requirements of the user and to the particular circumstances of its use, and which will not cause any discomfort to the user or unduly interfere with his freedom of movement.

In its broadest aspects the illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a light frame of two parts disposed at an angle to each other, the device being adapted to be worn about the neck in the angle between the chin and the chest so that one part rests about the upper portion of the wearers chest and the other part presses upwardly against the chin and keeps the head erect. I

Referring briefly to the drawing in which is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device, part of the covering being broken away to ex pose otherwise hidden parts;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the means for securing the two principal elements of the device in any desired adjusted position;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same element;

Figure 4. is a cross-section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 5 is a side view of the device showing its manner of application, the lower portion of the wearer's head and adjacent parts of his body being indicated generally by short dash lines.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail and particularly to Figures 1 and 5 thereof, it will be noted that the device consists essentially of the two semi-annular members I and 2. lijiach of these elements, which are of substantially similar construction and which may advantageously be fashioned out of light material or metal such as aluminum, has a wide flat central portion 3 which tapers into the two narrower end portions 4 and 5. The end portions are preferably U-shaped in vertical cross-section, the sides of the U tapering down toward the central fiat portion. One side of the U is fash- .ment I2.

ionedinto the ear or lug 6, there being an ear or lug for each endof each member I and 2. The two ,members are pivotally connected to- .gether by means of screws I which pass through alinedapertures in the ears 6. The numeral ,Ia designates a nut which is received on the threaded end of the screw. 7

Wound loosely about the screw I and bolt Ia. at each pivotal connection between the mem hers I and 2 is a spring 8 having a coiled central portion and two free ends 9 and In. The free ends 9 and II) press against the floors of the U-shaped ends of the members I and 2, thus forcing the members apart.

The angle between the two members may be adjusted to suit individual requirements and the members may be maintained in adjusted position by means of the chain I I and the locking ele- The chain II is permanently secured in any desired manner to the upper member I and the locking element is permanently secured to the lower member 2. The chain is provided with a large number of substantially spherical links, which links cooperate with the locking element I2 as will now be described.

The locking element I2 is in the form of a short cylindrical tube open at its upper end and provided with the three slots I3, I4, and I5. The slot I3 is substantially circular in shape and communicates with the slot I4 which is positioned to one side of the slot I3. The slot I5 is disposed substantially diametrically opposite to the slot I3. Both slots I l and I5 are vertical and are open at their upper ends. As shown in Figures 1 and 4 the chain II passes through the slots I3 and I5, the slot I4 serving to facilitate threading the chain through the slot I3. Normally the chain is in taut condition, a portion of the chain between two of its links pressing tightly against the upper end of the slot I3 and a portion of the chain between two other links being tightly clamped by the slot I5. By raising the chain out of the slot I5 and pressing the two members I and 2 toward each other against the tension of the springs 8, the chain is released from the locking element and it is then possible to adjust the two members I and 2 to other relative positions. When the desired positions are obtained, the chain may be locked by simply forcing a portion of the chain between two links into the slot I5.

To conceal the metallic elements and to render the device thoroughly. sanitary, cove-rs I6 and I! may be provided for the members I and 2. An additional cover I8 may be provided for each A strap 20 may be provided to secure thedevice about the neck of the wearer. The strap may be provided with the snap fasteners 2|, Zla and 2| b so that the strap may be adjusted for necks of different sizes.

From the foregoing description, the manner of application of the device to the body, its adjustment and the manner in which the various parts cooperate in keeping erect the head of the wearer without impairing his comfort or interfering with his bodily movements is thought to be obvious and no extended explanation of its operation is considered necessary. Suffice it to state that the structure and arrangement of the elements of the device enable the device to be positioned securely in the angle between the chin and the chest, the lower member 2 being supported lightly and without undue pressure about the upper portion of the chest below the neck, and the upper member I pressing lightly and with yieldable pressure upwardly against the lower jaw bone,

thus preventing the head of the wearer from involuntarily falling upon his chest.

The foregoing description and specification include the essential and distinctive thought of my invention, but it is to be distinctly understood that the same may be modified in various ways and/or combined with various other details without affecting the peculiar results obtained and without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims, in which I intend to claim all the patentable novelty inherent in my invention.

I claim:

1. As a sub-combination of a head rest of the type intended to promote the comfort of passengers on trains, etc., consisting of a light frame of two semi-annular members pivoted together at their outer ends, spring means for maintaining the body portions of the two members in spaced relation, and means for adjusting the angle between the two members.

2. As an article of manufacture, a head rest of the type intended to promote the comfort of wearers on trains, etc., consisting of a light frame of two semi-circular members pivoted together at their ends, spring means for maintaining the body portions of the two members in spaced relation, means for adjusting the angle between the two members, and a strap attached to said frame to secure said frame about the neck of the wearer.

HENRY ARNOLD KAISER. 

